Thoko stepped into the hotel lobby and looked around for Sam Woodcombe. They were meant to be having tea in half an hour and she wanted to get a seat before the older woman chose a store front window. Hotel Belle Fleure had a delightful coffee shop that hosted stars, starlets, the rich, the famous and the wealthy. Cocoa by Coco was the spot to be seen at when you wanted to be seen.
Thoko found the perfect spot in the nearly crowded shop. It was near the window to have the light come in but far enough to avoid a camera lens. She chose the seat that faced away from the window. A waiter came to her.
“I’m sorry ma’am this table is reserved.” The waiter told her expecting her to stand up.
“Yes, I am aware of that. Samantha Woodcombe and guest am I correct?” Thoko replied not looking up from the menu which she’d asked for from another waiter.
“Yes, ma’am; I can seat you anywhere else if you’re happy to wait.”
“No, thank you.” She continued to peruse the menu calmly.
“Ma’am, if you don’t get up now I’ll have no choice but to call security.”
‘Do you know the name of Sam’s guest?” Her grip tightened on the menu. The media parasites outside would have a field day if she were thrown out by security.
“Thokozani Musa.” The waiter announced proudly. Somehow it didn’t occur to him to verify her identity though. He was certain that this American woman could not be the African woman being hosted by the generous Mrs. Sam Woodcombe. In fact, he was sure of it.
“Good. Be so kind as to bring me a glass of water and direct Mrs. Woodcombe here now that she’s arrived.” Thoko looked up and smiled brightly at the waiter who looked up to find Samantha Woodcombe heading in their direction.
“Ma’am, please leave.” The waiter demanded in almost panic.
Thoko shook her head and watched the waiter stomp over to the security guards. The waiter pointed at her. Thoko hid her smile behind her menu. She’d already asked the manager on duty to have the table. The waiter, bless his heart, was only going to get himself in trouble.
Samantha Woodcombe stopped just before the table as two security guards appeared out of thin air. She looked around. “Gentlemen, if I’m not under threat I would like to join my guest for tea.” She politely announced.
“There’s a woman at your table who won’t leave ma’am.”
“What’s her name?” Samantha Woodcombe asked quietly. Her question was met with silence. Irritation showed on her face. Her voice was cold and even when she spoke. “None of you know?”
She pulled her cell phone from her bag and flipped through her contacts. She pressed on a particular contact. She put the phone to her ear. “Hello darling…I am fine thanks and you?...Oh marvelous. How are your delightful daughters?” Sam laughed. “Oh good. Darling, I know this is awfully short notice but I’d like a table set for tea for a special guest and myself for today…oh wonderful. We’re on our way.”
She cut the call and dropped her phone into her bag. She pushed past the waiter and security staff straight to the table. “Dear Thoko, we have reservations elsewhere, let’s go.”
Thoko looked up from the menu surprised. She’d been looking forward to trying the tarts. She nodded and picked up her hand bag.
Samantha inspected the young woman. She couldn’t find fault with her dressing, make up or decorum. Something fishy was going on. She smiled at Thoko and gave her a hug and a kiss before linking their arms.
The waiter’s jaw dropped to the floor and one of the security guards pushed it up. The manager rushed out of her office. She walked to Mrs. Woodcombe. “You’re leaving?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so my dear. My guest isn’t welcome.” Sam’s face was grim and unsmiling.
The young manager’s hazel eyes opened wide and she looked at Thoko in shock. “Mrs. Musa, did you have trouble with the table? I had it reserved soon after you requested it.”
“The table was perfect, thank you. Your wait staff asked me to move. I was waiting for your waiter to call you but he went for security first as I refused to move.” Thoko explained without any anger. “I’m sure he’d had a rough day but I believe we’re booked somewhere else now. I’ll come back and try your tarts someday.”
Thoko felt bad for the manager and waiter. The manager was new and she’d been accommodating. The waiter obviously had been bullied by people claiming to be who they were not so it was an awkward situation. The waiter came to them and apologized profusely. His apology was accepted and the two women left with Mrs. Woodcombe’s security one in front and one in back.
Amber glared at the waiter. She had asked her dad one favor: to let her manage the shop for three months and she was ready to kill someone on day one! Her mom was going to flip when she heard that Samantha Woodcombe left without even placing an order.
The waiter was older than her and had given her attitude when her father introduced her as one of the new managers. “Go do dishes until I decide what to do with you!” She snapped.
The front desk phone rang. She picked it up and answered pleasantly. It was the spa asking for a menu. She sent one of the younger waiters up to the fifth floor.
Amber grabbed an apron, tablet and stylus and started working the tables she had relieved of waiters. Just as she was taking an order she saw her father walk in. Panic hit her and her fingers holding the stylus trembled.
“Are you alright dear?” The elderly woman at the table asked.
Amber smiled. “Yes, just a bit nervous. You’re one of my first tables on my first day on the job.”
“You better do a good job. The hotel owner is here and he’s watching you.” The teenage boy who sat with her condescended.
Amber smiled again; she was used to rich jerks like this one. She went to school with them. She repeated their order flawlessly and confirmed it before turning to the next table. As soon as she hit enter the order went to the kitchen. The guy she had sent to the spa came back and placed the menu at the front desk before coming to her.
As soon as she was done with the second order she sent it to the kitchen and gave the young waiter her attention. She cringed when she saw her father being called over to the first table from the corner of her eyes. She turned her full attention to the waiter.
“So, the order’s gone to the kitchen but they want you to deliver it. Actually, your mom insisted you be the one to deliver.” He looked at her as if he felt sorry for her.
“My mom?” Amber’s pale face drained of what color it had left. She’d have a message on her phone by now. She nodded and sent him to a family that just walked in.
Taking off her apron and returning the tablet she walked to the manager’s office. Her phone was on her desk. Sure enough, just like she had imagined her mom had sent her a message.
She was the youngest at home and no one let her forget it. She checked her hair and makeup in the mirror. Her auburn hair was in a neat bun. Her white school shirt was the perfect blouse for her black loose fitting trousers. She was curvy enough without having to wear tight clothes to prove it. She looked young but professional.
She walked back out knowing the order for the spa would be almost ready by now. Her father motioned for her to come over to table 8, the table with the nice old lady. Her palms were sweating.
She wiped them across her trousers. Her father was decent looking for an old guy. He had a full head of hair which he “rebelliously” kept in a tiny afro when her mom forgot to send him to the barbers.
He had skin the shade of polished dark oak with no wrinkles. He had perfect white teeth that lit up his smile. She’d give anything for a straight smile.
“Ah, there she is.” Her dad put an arm around her and she blushed, the pink coloring her cheeks and the tops of her ears. “I hear you’re doing very well on your first day.” He proudly beamed at her. She hugged him back and tried to pull away.
She smiled shyly at the old lady. “Dad, customers are looking!”
Her father laughed and let her go. “Sweetie, this is Mrs. Norwood and her grandson Blake.”
“Nice to meet you,” she murmured.
“Oh, the pleasure is mine. I’m so pleased she’s your daughter Coco. She brightens up the place just like her mother used to.”
Amber frowned, her mother had never worked in the shop. She stayed away from the café unless her dad was there. She looked at her dad.
He smiled and told her that the spa order was ready. She jumped, shook Mrs. Norwood’s hand and said how it was nice to meet her. She asked her dad to watch the floor while she made the delivery.
When she got up to the fifth floor the receptionist pointed to one of the private saunas. As she rolled the service cart in she saw her mother sitting with Mrs. Woodcombe and Mrs. Musa. She hid her shock and put the plates out before the women who sat on wicker chairs with cushions.
The room was large and furnished with wood and bamboo. The table that each woman sat at a side of was made of bamboo. They were the perfect height for the plush, cushioned, wicker chairs.
“Thank you honey! Come meet my friends.” Her mom called her closer. Her mom was gorgeous, tall, slim, every bit the model she used to be before getting married to Coco. She stood next to her mom’s chair.
Unlike the other two women who were in robes her mother was in a dress that hugged her petite curves. She had a gold bracelet and her matching watch and earrings along with her wedding rings were her only adornment. Her mom’s arm came around her and squeezed.
“This is our baby Amber. She’s the weekend Manager at Cocoa by Coco. She asked Darren if she could manage his café and you know Darren, he gave her the job.”
Amber groaned, if only it had been that easy. She had to promise her grades wouldn’t drop, the café would become profitable and she’d make friends at school. That was so she could work over the weekend. Dad had refused weekdays completely.
“I had to convince him Mom.” She leaned into her mom. Her mom always smelled so nice. She ran her hand through her mom’s wavy hair.
“You handled the scene downstairs very well. I won’t have people slighting my daughter-in-law in such a manner.”
Thoko cringed. How on Earth had she found out? Amber’s jaw dropped. “Daughter-in-law?”
Samantha Woodcombe grinned. “Yes, she’s William’s foster mother so that makes her my daughter-in-law.” She patted Thoko’s hand without taking her eyes off Amber. “You know my grandson William Parker, yes?”
Amber nodded. Who at HSE didn’t? He was the cutest, sweetest, senior at HSE. She blushed and saw the three women exchange glances. Uh-oh, that was her cue to leave.
“Well, I should really get back to work. I’m really sorry about the mix up earlier ladies. Consider your order on the house,” she rolled the service cart to the door and practically ran to the elevator.
Samantha Woodcombe smiled into her tea. The Woodcombe men were definitely hiding something. And she was going to find out exactly what.
“Hey Ron! I miss seeing your wife in those jogging shorts in the morning. How is that fine ass?” A white guy with light-brown hair asked as Ron walked into the Corporation office. Ron looked at the guy and committed the face to memory. He smirked at the guy.
“You should really get out more man. If you think that ass is fine you’re missing out.” He laughed at the surprise on the other man’s face.
“Ouch. If you’re looking for Dimitri he isn’t here. But he said thanks for coming to check on him. It means a lot.”
Ron shrugged. “She’s my wife. I married her so I don’t cook or clean. Give her enough sex to keep her faithful, pay the bills; she does as I say.” Ron looked around, the place looked like any other office…if only people knew.
The sign on the wall at the elevator was bright and innovative. One would think Corps Inc was an IT firm at first glance. Noting Dimitri’s absence he decided to wait for Dimitri to make the next move. He tipped an imaginary hat at the asshole systems analyst and left.
He made sure to keep his face neutral until he got into his car. Once in his car he slapped his hands on the dashboard. He’d suspected that they were watching his every move and now he had proof.
The Corporation would pay for ruining his perfect plan. They weren’t smarter than him, he just let them think it. A text’s arrival chimed on his phone.
Ugh, that was probably Thoko asking if he’d be home for dinner. He didn’t even bother checking to see if he was right. He breathed a sigh of relief. He had sent Precious home. One less female to worry about; he would send for her when the time was right.
To ensure her obedience he had given her his online banking details and allowed her to make any purchase she wanted. She’d bought herself a second-hand one and transferred more or less what should be duty and taxes to her bank account. He wasn’t worried.
Precious knew better than to piss him off. Last time she had thrown a tantrum he had married Thoko. Precious was bitter with Thoko and on her best behavior with him.
Thoko was mad. No, she was spiteful and she would demand her pound of flesh. How dare he?
She sat at the computer in the study and glared at the screen. She heard the door open downstairs and tapped the screen initiating shut down. She cleared the anger from her face and smiled.
Ron walked into the house and was surprised at the silence. Thoko cooked to music. That was another oddity, he couldn’t smell anything either.
His cell rang as he walked into their bedroom and closed the door. Thoko heard him answer the call and go to turn on the security lights. Will would be home soon.
Thoko grabbed the blanket on the sofa in the lounge and covered herself with it as she lay on the sofa. She closed her eyes and waited. Footsteps came to her and she felt cold finger tuck a few strands of hair behind her ear.
She started and looked up. Ron looked down and pang of guilt stabbed at his conscience. He smiled gently.
“Hey babe. I’m going out for drinks with Dimitri. He’s already here to pick me up.” Ron whispered. She nodded. He crouched down and kissed her forehead, then as an after-thought he kissed her on the lips.
“Make sure you eat something to line your stomach or you’ll be vomiting when you get home.” She croaked. Ron grinned. He turned to go.
“Ronnie?” He turned back. “May I have your phone please?”
“Now?” She nodded. He hesitated. “I’ll give you when I get back.”
“Please, the Wi-Fi is acting weird again and mom’s asked twice if I saw her email.”
Ron nodded and gave her his smartphone. She had opted for a rudimentary phone that called and texted only. The last thing he wanted was his mother calling asking why her email had not yet been replied. He told Thoko that he would fix the Wi-Fi when he got back and he left.
When he stepped outside a sleek luxury sedan was parked at the top of the driveway. It was nearest the part of the side walk that led straight to the front door. The driver’s window was rolled down and Dimitri grinned.
“Jump in!” The car was already facing the road and all he had to do was drive down the driveway and out. Ron said a silent prayer and went around into the passenger seat.
Forty-five minutes later they were seated in an Irish themed bar with two bottles of beer between them. Dimitri admired that Ron always kept calm. They both knew that this was going to get ugly soon.
Ron felt the pit in his stomach grow. He had known today would come and as much as he had prepared for it he really wasn’t looking forward to it. He took another sip of his beer and feigned relaxation.
They calmly spoke of sports and politics just like two old friends. Ron almost forgot how much trouble he was in. When they finished their third round of beers Dimitri offered to take Ron home.
Ron declined the offer and opted for a cab. Dimitri walked Ron to the nearest cab and opened the door for Ron. Ron climbed in with a sigh of relief.
“Good bye my friend! See you soon!” Dimitri called out as the cab drove off. Dimitri went back into the bar and had a few more drinks.
Rick Verne looked at Harry Winston. Harry was one of those associates. He was good but he was honest, sometimes too honest.
Harry was great for the pro bono cases where the client was usually innocent. On the Norwood case, however, Rick had his doubts about Harry winning. Ironically, though, Harry had been able to almost dead accurate about how Suarez’s client would react to the offers.
Rick had wavy brown hair that stopped at his collar. He wasn’t good looking, he had a broad forehead, a Roman nose, perfectly spaced eyes with long, thick lashes, thin lips & a square jaw. He wasn’t bad looking either.
Harry, on the other hand, had very curly light-brown hair that was very short. He was the classic definition of cute. His almost perfectly symmetrical face made him very easy on the eyes. His light-green eyes were framed with long lashes that gave him a youthful look.
Rick frowned. There was something not right about this whole thing. He asked Harry for a case file.
They were in one of the think rooms surrounded by files and law volumes. Their firm’s think rooms were designed like mini-board rooms long oval and rectangular tables with six to eight very comfortable chairs, at least one counter top for extra work, power points under the table for laptops, a phone, and all the bare necessities to get the job done.
“Which name did you run through for background check?”
“Both. Za Wood is a writer; her novel is currently on the New York Times Best Seller List. There’s a website, blog, and social network pages. Thokozani Musa just landed here in June this year; no driver’s license, her bills are paid for by HSE, she has a joint account with her husband who works for Titania.”
“She’s married?”
Harry nodded. “I looked for change of name, or other identity or aliases. It’s like she has no paper trail.”
“If she can afford a ten million dollar house we can find out which wing her bedroom is in. If this goes to trial the DA’s office is going to want to make a statement and nail us for as much as possible.”
“You think it won’t?”
Rick smiled an unpleasant smile. “Just about everyone has a price; even rich women. The Norwoods are giving us everything we need to make sure Blake doesn’t end up in jail. Make sure youvfind out what she eats for breakfast, where she shops…if she has six toes I want to know.”
Harry nodded. He had suggested that Blake apologize and seek help but he had been told that Blake didn’t do anything. He didn’t like working on this case. He liked working with Rick Verne even less.
Thoko walked into Principal Smith’s office. She had been summoned again. Ronald had been missing since Saturday evening and she’d gone to report it just yesterday evening.
“Have a seat.” Principal Smith motioned towards the chair on the other side of his desk. Thoko sat in the chair. “I understand that your husband has gone missing.” Thoko nodded.
“Have the police gotten any leads?” Thoko shook her head. “How are you holding up?” Thoko’s bottom lip trembled and she gave him a shaky smile. “If you need anything, just ask.” She nodded, stood and walked out of his office.
After she closed the door behind her, Smith picked up the phone. “It’s me, she’s in a state. I’ll let her work as long as she doesn’t lose it. She doesn’t look like she is handling it well at all.”
He hung up and sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. Angelica found him like that an hour later when she knocked on his office door. He opened his eyes and waited for her to speak.
“The police are here for you.” She announced before letting two officers in.
“Thank you Angelica.” Smith smiled at the two women who stood before him. “Officers, please, have a seat. Have you been offered coffee?”
Ron woke up with a start. His head ached. He reached for his head but his hands were bound.
He looked around. He was in a hotel room. He looked close at the room, it seemed very familiar.
He shifted his feet. They were on a plastic sheet. He looked down, he was dressed in only his underwear.
His legs had bruises on them. He breathed in and he felt fire on both sides of his chest. Slowly, it all came back to him.
The cab had headed for town instead of HSE. When he tried telling the driver a glass partition had risen and cut him off. It had been like he was in a limo.
The padded wall between him and the driver had then made sense. He had wondered when he got in why there would be a padded wall just until the top of the seats in front. When the glass rose it has only to cover from the bottom of the headrest to the cab ceiling. It had happened within seconds.
He vaguely recalled being helped into the room. Then the real fun had begun. Dimitri had come by with a few friends.
They had tested a few bats out on his ribs, that had been the easy bit. The wood ones had cracked on his ribs, the aluminum ones had cracked his ribs. After that they had tenderized his thighs and calves. he was thoroughly bruised but without a broken bone in his body.
“Well, Ron, since you want to make advance payments why don’t you pay the balance plus 20% interest and we’ll call it a day?” Dimitri asked.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I need a computer.”
Dimitri laughed. “Call your wife and tell her to make the payment. She can use a computer can’t she? Oh, of course she can, she’s the one who’s been making the agreed payments.”
Ron panicked. If he told Thoko she’d find out and his safety net at HSE would be gone. He asked for his phone. He told the goon who had his phone to call the contact ‘wifey’.
When he was done he noticed that all the guys were in sweats and wife beaters. Shit, he’d never gotten himself into this much trouble before. One of the guys bet fifty bucks he could slap Ron the hardest. The other three grunted.
The last guy drew blood but Ronald’s face was already numb by then. Dimitri sat with his back to them and watched TV. Don won the first round.
Thoko looked at the piece of paper with Ron’s banking details. She’d already memorized his username, password and account number but she was mad. He hadn’t told her that he had this account.
Then to make matters worse, Precious, his ex, sent a text confirming that she would pay the $60, 000 from his account. Thoko decided she would pay his $60,000 and she would use all of his money doing it. She’d add an extra twenty percent for fun.
After all he had close to $200,000 sitting in this account. She recalled how she had seen someone like Precious at the spa the day she was with Mrs. Woodcombe but she hadn’t been sure. She typed in the password.
“Not sure my bootie, I knew it was her. I was just hoping he wasn’t lying about loving me.” She muttered to herself.
She transferred $80,000 from Ron’s secret account all at once. He could deal with the IRS on his own for that transaction. After all, she knew nothing about the account.
She was tempted to pay herself back the money she’d put into the joint account but she knew it wasn’t worth it. He wasn’t worth it.
At first she had been devastated that he was missing. Then she was certain he had run off with Precious. She had told the police and her lawyer as much. Now? She figured he was in it deep.
Ron woke up in a basement. Tied yet to another chair. A figure loomed over his face.
“Good morning my friend.”
Ron’s eyes widened. He hadn’t seen Giovanni since Durban. Giovanni was Dimitri’s keeper. “Gio”
“You have 48 hours to pay up or your sister Precious dies.”
“Whoa, whoa! Come on Giovanni, I can’t get you the money if you have me tied down like this. Take me to Vegas, I’ll give you your money plus interest within 48 hours.” He shivered.
“If you don’t…” Giovanni didn’t finish his statement. He sent a fist flying into Ron’s gut. “You know, your wife’s hot mate. It may take me longer to get my cash but I have friends who’d make the same amount per week in Euros with her. I know she’s horny because she’s been very playful with that kid you normally have strapped to your side.”
Ron felt despair, he needed Thoko, if she got sold any protection he had would go with her. This guy couldn’t know that. He looked bored.
“How’s your sister? If I had a sister like that I would fuck her too. You seemed a decent bloke Ron. Didn’t think you ‘had incest in ye. Guess I was wrong ‘ey?”
He woke up in another hotel room, this time he was dressed in a suit. On the bed next to him was a note.
“This is all I could withdraw from your account. The wife might be a bit pissed when you get home.” He read aloud. His bank card was next to the note. A knock on the door let him know that someone was coming in.
Ron stood up, he knew the drill. Dimitri handed him his phone. Ron looked: 20 missed calls from his wife; 15 from his mother; 3 from Precious and 2 from his sister Tanya. On this phone Precious’ number was saved under “Mudiwa”
“What does ‘Mudiwa’ mean again in your language?” Dimitri sniggered.
Thoko sat at the police station. In front of a skinny officer, at a disorderly desk. She felt like standing and arranging the chaos on his desk.
“Officer, it’s been four days!”
“Ma’am, is this the first time he’s disappeared?” The officer asked. He had a face that was slim with a long nose that reminded her of a rat.
“No, he often will leave Work on a Friday and return home on Monday. This is the fourth time in three months.” Thoko looked down, ashamed to have to admit that.
The young man felt sorry for her. His bank card withdrew $20k the day before yesterday but he was sure she knew this already. “Ma’am,” he began gently, “have you considered that your husband could be having an affair?”
“Yes.” Thoko replied in a low voice wringing her hands. Tears of humiliation brimmed her eyes. “The office, his work, they’ve called to ask why he isn’t at work. They- They’ve never called before.”
She didn’t, couldn’t mention the screaming match she’d had the day before with the woman she now knew to be her husband’s lover. She cleared her throat and blew her nose, even with her darker complexion one could see she’d been crying, her nose looked reddish as did her eyes and eyelids. “I just want to know where he is. The 48 hours has passed, he could be dead somewhere.”
Her mother-in-law had threatened to come over if there was still no word. Thoko was not in the mood to deal with that woman at all. “I just need to know.”
“I’m sorry ma’am. As soon as we know something we will let you know.” The officer sympathetically gave her another tissue.
Nodding, she took it and left the station. Thoko drove home and waited. As soon as she heard the front door open she called the police station and told them her husband was back in a flat voice. The police officer asked what her husband said about his whereabouts.
She cut him off, telling him that Ron had just walked through the door. She was sure he would come in and see them tomorrow morning. Ron flipped on the lights as he walked into the room.
Thoko respectfully greeted her husband in vernacular, took his coat, offered him food and a warm bath. She noted the scabs on his hands and the way he winced when he walked. Staring at her blankly he took her offer of food and the bath wondering why he wasn’t in love with this woman.
The next morning Ron woke up in the safety of a familiar bedroom and sighed. He needed to call work. He was pretty sure security here had alerted the police to his return. He lay back in bed and reached for Thoko.
She was leaning over him telling him the police were waiting for him downstairs. She went down before him. She looked dressed for work. As he came down the stairs she left without giving him so much as a good bye.
When he got into the living room he discovered why. Waiting on the couches were the police and Precious. He swore.
“Virginia, what are you doing here?” He asked the woman dressed in designer heels, skin tight jeans and a fur coat.
“You sent me a text message saying I should come here. Thoko even introduced me as your wife. I didn’t think you’d tell her about us.” Virginia looked impressed.
Ron smiled. “Make us some coffee would you Precious?”
She smiled and practically skipped to the kitchen. Ron turned to the police. The officers, one man & one woman did not look impressed. They watched the wife who was sobbing her heart out yesterday introduce a flashy young lady as his wife without so much as a bat of her eyelids.
Ron told the cops everything that happened. He had nothing to lose now. After Precious served them coffee he went to the station to file his official statement and have pictures taken of his injuries. After that he went to work with a twist to the original plot and an official police affidavit to back him up.
Not that his debt to the Corporation was settled he didn’t need HSE. After all he had money in the bank and Thoko’s salary would cover any immediate expenses. He’d already paid for a fully furnished apartment in town much closer to Titania Park.
He called the estate agent. It was time to move in. He called his lawyer, he wanted to get rolling on his divorce.
Ron was in high spirits when he got to work. He headed straight to HR. He explained that he had been kidnapped and held against his will for a debt he’d racked during college that he had been paying off. He took some sick days and told Precious he’d meet her at the hotel.